Bill Gates Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

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Bill Gates Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

Our Bill Gates Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents, Family, Wife, Children, Lifestyle, Net Worth and Personal Life.

In the nutshell, this is the Life Story of Bill Gates. We begin from the Billionaire’s boyhood days, to when he became famous.

To whet your autobiography appetite, here is his childhood to adult gallery — a perfect summary of Bill Gates’s Bio.

Bill Gates Biography - Behold his Life and Rise.
Bill Gates Biography – Behold his Life and Rise.

Yes, you and I know he (like Jack Dorsey and Larry Page) has made a significant contribution to technological innovation. However, not many persons have read Bill Gates’ Biography, which is quite impressive. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.

Bill Gates’ Childhood Story:

For Biography starters, his full names are William Henry Gates III.  Gates was born on the 28th day of October 1955 in Seattle, Washington.

Bill Gates is the second child and first boy born to his mother, Mary Maxwell Gates (a teacher), and to his father, William H. Gates Sr (a then senior lawyer).

A rare picture of Bill Gates and his elder sister.
A rare picture of Bill Gates and his elder sister.

Growing up in Seattle, a Young bill was perceived to be Precocious (too intelligent for his age), a trait that made him endeared to his mother.

Consequently, she often took him along with her to schools where she volunteered as a lecturer.

Bill Gates Family Background:

The Billionaire was born into a home whose family origin constitutes a track record of academically minded individuals.

His brilliant and extraordinary intelligence may have been an inheritance from his family roots.

As a little boy, he spends a lot of time with his mother.
As a little boy, he spends a lot of time with his mother.

Bill Gates Early Life – The Reading Prodigy:

Early on in his life, Bill cashed in on the opportunity by reading several books that were considered too abstract for kids.

It didn’t take him much time to absorb the varied contents of an entire encyclopedia!.

The book in his hand gives him an unfathomable joy.
The book in his hand gives him an unfathomable joy.

For Bill, reading was not a pastime activity but an endeavor that simulated innovative thoughts. According to his mother, young Bill would sometimes seclude himself for hours to tread the path of deep thinkers.

We lose him sometimes for hours at a time and when I would ask what are you doing? he would say, I’m thinking mother!”.

On their part, Bill’s parents utilized competition and excellence as a yardstick for upbringing, a measure which rubbed off on young Bill and his two sisters.

At a tender age, Bill learned to be ambitious and distinguished himself in all of his childhood endeavors including sports and athletics.

Also, he had a penchant for playing two board games two; monopoly and Risk (pictured below).

His love for these games is immeasurable.
His love for these games is immeasurable.

Bill Gates Education:

Schooling contributed its part to stimulating young bills’ curiosity. He attended a public elementary school where he developed interests in math and science.

Besides, he made it a habit to regularly visit the high-tech exhibits at the Seattle world fair (between April 21, 1962, to October 21, 1962).

The more Bill was exposed to the wonders of science, the more he became a loner and began to exhibit pre-teen rebellion.

This abrupt change of character did not go well with his parents, who wanted to be in control of his personality. According to William H. Gates Sr;

“Bill somewhere around 11 or 12 years of age became independent emotionally. He was quite willing to make up his mind about what he wanted to do or not do, and that was really tough for us particularly for his mother.”

At this point in his life, Bill was observed to have lost track of how to utilize time and was considered to have lost direction.

His enlightened parents resolved to enroll him at  Lakeside School in North Seattle, where they believed he would find both discipline and direction.

Bill Gates Biography – Early Life (Career):

It was at Lakeside School in North Seattle that Bill combined his fascination for science and mathematical knowledge in building a career in personal computing and programming.

He made friends with an upper-class student named Paul Allen who shared an equal addiction to computers.

Although Allen was only two years older than Bill, he looked larger and very much quiet and contemplative.

Their early relationship started with writing software codes combined with a bit of competition among themselves.

Their body size does not seem to communicate the difference in their age.
Their body size does not seem to communicate the difference in their age.

Bill Gates Biography – The Road to Fame Story:

Bill’s relationship with Allen metamorphosed into business, beginning with the development of a computer program, Traf-O-Data in conjunction with another programmer, Paul Gilbert.

The program was designed to read the raw data from roadway traffic counters and create reports for traffic engineers, fetched the duo 20,000 dollars.

Bill Gates' first co-developed program- Traf-o-Data.
Bill Gates’ first co-developed program- Traf-o-Data.

After doing several jobs together, Bill and Allen talked about developing their own company, a development Bill parents rejected insisting that Bill must complete his education before starting up any venture.

Bill Gates Biography – The Rise To Fame Story:

Bill’s parents were proud and happy when he graduated from Lakeside School (pictured below) and progressed to Harvard intending to study Law.

However, his heart was not in his studies as he couldn’t find anything more fascinating than his work with computers.

A rare picture of Bill Gates posing alongside his father during his graduation from Lakeside.
A rare picture of Bill Gates posing alongside his father during his graduation from Lakeside.

Together with Allen, he signed up for a for a micro soft architect job with MITS which entails creating software for computers (the development marked the birth of Microsoft).

It wasn’t long before Bill dropped out of Harvard (pre-senior year), registered Microsoft as a trademark in 1976.

Two years later, Microsoft year-end sales exceed $1 million while Bill got a reputation for not being only tough but focused. The rest, as they say, is history.

Bill Gates Relationship Life; Girlfriend, Wife, and Children:

This section of Bill Gates’ Bio tells you Facts about his relationship life. So without further ado, let’s begin.

Bill Gates’ Girlfriend; The dating experience:

Yes, Bill was tough and focused, but was biddable to the love yearnings of his heart especially when he met Melinda French at Microsoft.

Bill first spotted Melinda who used to serve as product manager for Microsoft at one of the company’s picnics. He asked her out for a dinner which came off successful.

Young Bill on a date with his girlfriend, Melinda.
Young Bill on a date with his girlfriend, Melinda.

Speaking to Fortune many years later (after their marriage) on what attracted her to Bill, Melinda remarked that;

“I was definitely attracted to his brilliant mind, but beyond that, his curiosity, and he has a huge sense of fun. I love that wry side of him.”

They dated for seven years before marriage and kept their relationship life private from the prying eyes of their colleagues. Also, they implored family members to respect their privacy.

Bill Gates’ Marriage:

The couple eventually married in 1994 at the then Manele Bay Hotel in Hawaii.

To keep the wedding private, Bill did not only book all the rooms in the hotel but ensured that all helicopters on the island of Maui were also booked to prevent unwanted visitors from flying over.

An inside-out of a billionaires wedding. They look adorable.
An inside-out of a billionaires wedding. They look adorable.

Bill Gates Children:

The couple lived happily thereafter at their lavish home — nicknamed “Xanadu 2.0” — in Medina, Washington, and their marriage was blessed with three children: Jennifer Katharine (born 1996), Rory John (born 1999), and Phoebe Adele (born 2002).

Bill Gates Family Life:

Bill was born to parents that utilized competition and excellence as a yardstick for the upbringing of Bill and his two siblings. Sit back as we bring you details of the Gates family.

About Bill Gates’ Father:

Bill Gates’s father, William H. Gates Sr is a retired American attorney who became a philanthropist and author. Unlike Bill, William H.

Gates Sr met his Wife, Mary Maxwell at the University of Washington and married her months later.

Bill Gates shows off his father, William H. Gates Sr.
Bill Gates shows off his father, William H. Gates Sr.

William H. Gates Sr was a positive influence on Young Bill and had congenital traits which his son can attest to:

“He’s very collaborative, very judicious, and he is serious about learning things and really knowing what he is talking about. He’s good at stepping back and seeing the broad picture.”

About Bill Gates’ Mother:

Bill Gates Mother, Mary Maxwell was an American businesswoman who served 18 years on the University of Washington board of regents.

Until her death in June 1994, she was much of a good influence on Bill Gates and offered him moral support in trying times.

Meet Bill Gates' mom, Mary Maxwell.
Meet Bill Gates’ mom, Mary Maxwell.

She also ensured that Bill’s fiance at the time (Melinda Gates) saw that her son used his wealth to help others by writing a letter to Melinda a day before their wedding. It read;

“From those to whom much is given, much is expected,”

Mary died six months later after a painful battle with breast cancer and Bill still cherishes her letter to date by living up to the message.

About Bill Gates’ Siblings:

Bill’s elder sister, Kristianne Blake nee Gates, is a certified public accountant who specializes in personal financial planning and tax planning.

She was also a significant partner in Deloitte Haskins & Sells and started her firm Later in 1989.

On her part, Bill’s younger sister, Elizabeth Gates Armintrout aka Libby is associated with many service organizations like schools and support groups. She is a well-known philanthropist.

 

Bill Gates Personal Life:

The Billionaire possesses an amalgam of personality traits that may and may not have contributed to his success as an established technocrat and businessman. They include;

Bill Gates is daring:

An inspiring story of Bill Gates audacity is an account of how he lied about having a Basic interpreter for MITS (a computer manufacturing company).

Consequently, the company was eager to see the software (which had not be created), a development that made Gates and Paul Allen develop the software in haste.

They both managed to present a workable software, one month later, Microsoft was founded not on a pre-established plan but lies.

A glimpse of the life of our famous billionaire. Take a close look at his room.
A glimpse of the life of our famous billionaire. Take a close look at his room.

Bill Gates is a violator of conventions:

Bill Gates was once arrested for driving without a valid driving license in 1975. He has been also booked for various traffic violations including overspeeding.

These developments made him hire the best traffic attornoverspendingey in Washington for legal bailout whenever he repeats the same offence.

You wont believe it! Bill Gates was once arrested for driving without a valid driver's license.
You wont believe it! Bill Gates was once arrested for driving without a valid driver’s license.

A similar incident happened in the 1980s when Bill alongside Paul Allen got to the airport late for their flight which had already taken off.

Bill Gates rushed to the control Panel and began pressing buttons, a move which could give got him arrested. Fortunately, somebody called the plane back for both of them.

Bill Knows how to prioritize:

While Bill Gates was at Havard, he had problems staying awake in some lectures because he had been working all round the clock writing codes (pictured below).

Staying up at night to write codes exhausted him. Now he can't even stay awake during lectures in the day time.
Staying up at night to write codes exhausted him. Now he can’t even stay awake during lectures in the day time.

Old habits, as they say, die hard, Bill Gates carried his chronic work attitude to Microsoft.

One time, a new secretary came in on Monday morning to find him sprawled out on the floor. She thought he was unconscious, but he’d just been up all weekend and was taking a quick catnap.

Furthermore, Bill Gates is one of the rich men in the world that know how to say “no”. Gates who advise others to be good at saying no elaborates that the measure allows one to focus on the things that make a difference.

Bill Gates Lifestyle:

As of May 2020, our Billionaire businessman had an estimated net worth of $106.3 billion. It is no longer news that Bill was once rated by forces as the wealthiest man on the planet.

He had worked extremely hard while employing appropriate business ethics to have amassed the wealth he enjoys today.

One of the renowned assets of our famous entrepreneur is his luxurious mansion known as Xanadu 2.0. Bill Gates’ house has a unique design and technology.

Spanning 66,000-square-foot the building’s total assessed value is worth an estimated sum of $147.5 million

Bill Gates Facts:

To wrap up our Bill Gates story, here are some lesser-known facts that would help you get a full grasp of her biography.

He is Highly Competitive

A story of Bill’s drive for competition could be demonstrated by the technocrat directive to his family requesting that they desist from using Apple products.

The directive came months after Bill gates helped Steve Job to resuscitate Apple, a help that got the company on meteoric success and competition with Microsoft.

His help to Steve Job ushered him to an era of competition.
His help to Steve Job ushered him to an era of competition.

Bill Gates Religion:

The subject matter of Bill Gates disposition to religion is controversial. While the technocrat does not outrightly state belief or disbelief in God, he makes people understand that he seeks answers to mysteries from science.

It suffices to say his bearing on the subject matter was summarized during an interview with PBS by David Frost;

“In terms of doing things I take a fairly scientific approach to why things happen and how they happen. I don’t know if there’s a god or not, but I think religious principles are quite valid”

It is worthwhile to note that Bill Gates sometimes goes for Mass in the company of his Wife and Kids who are devoted Catholics.

Career Timeline:

Microsoft, as we know it is not just a creation of Bill Gates and his friend Allen but Bill gates career. We bring you a few significant timelines of the company’s evolution.

APR 4, 1975:

Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.

February 1976: 

Gates’ sent an “Open Letter to Hobbyists” in which he made a radical demand that computer enthusiasts respect the copyright of software developers was published in the Homebrew Computer Club newsletter.

26 November 1976:

Gates and Allen register the trademark “Microsoft”. Their work has become independent of MITS. Gates has given up his Harvard studies altogether, and he and Allen are taking on staff.

18 March 1988:

Apple files a lawsuit against Microsoft, claiming that the “look and feel” of Windows is too similar to the Apple “graphical user interface”. The legal battle lasted six years and Apple eventually lost.

1989:

Microsoft Office is released.

1992:

Some of Microsoft’s competitors met to share concerns about the increasing dominance of Gates’ company.

May 1998:

The Department of Justice and the Attorneys General of 20 states sue Microsoft for illegally thwarting competition.

7 June 2000:

Following the Department of Justice inquiry, Judge Jackson rules that Microsoft should be split into two units: one to produce operating systems, the other to make other software components. He calls Microsoft an “abusive monopoly”.

27 June 2008:

Gates left his full-time role at Microsoft to concentrate on the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

OCT 22, 2009:

Microsoft Released Windows 7 which was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, to be fully compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible.

October 26, 2012:

Microsoft Released Windows 8 which was developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. Development of Windows 8 started before the release of its predecessor, Windows 7, in 2009.

July 29,  2015:

Microsoft released Windows 10 which is the first version of Windows that receives ongoing feature updates.

Bill Gates Biography Summary:

Bill Gates’ wiki knowledge base helps you find information about him concisely and efficiently. Find below;

Wiki InquiriesAnswers
Full NameWilliam Henry Gates III
Nick NameBill Gates
Born28th October 1955
FatherWilliam H. Gates Sr
MotherMary Maxwell
SiblingsKristianne Blake nee Gates and Elizabeth Gates Armintrout aka Libby
SpouseMelinda Gates
ChildrenJennifer Katharine, Rory John, and Phoebe Adele
EthnicityMultiracial
Net worth$106.3 billion
Height1.77 m (5feet 10inches)
Weight70 kg (154 lbs)
Eyes ColorGrey
OccupationSoftware developer, investor entrepreneur, and a philanthropist.

Conclusion:

Thanks for reading the Biography of Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft. More so, thank you for believing in What we are and What we do.

While putting up this article on Bill Gates Biography and Childhood Story, our editors were on the watch for accuracy and fairness. Kindly place your comments or contact us if you see something that doesn’t look right on this article about him.

Cole Daxton is a talented Childhood Biography Storyteller with a passion for uncovering the untold stories of some of the world's biggest celebrities. With a keen eye for detail, Cole Daxton has spent years delving into the Early Years and Success Stories of some of the most famous people in the world.